Spring construction.



W. B. SMITH.

SPRING CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 21. 1908.

Patented Mar. 30, 1909.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WATSON E. SMITH, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

SPRING- CONSTRUCTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 21, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it "known that I, WarsoN R. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Jackson, in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in SpringConstructions, of which the following is a specificatron. v

This invention relates to spring constructions.

One object of the invention is to provide a sup orting barfor thesprings embodying suc characteristics that it will not be subject tocompression incident to the weight of the rider upon the structure undernormal conditions or in the event that the vehicle should strike anobstruction in the roadway and jar the vehicle in which the structure isemployed.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a springstructure capable of being transported in what is known as a knockdowncondition and set up or as sembled by any person desirous of using thedevice.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of aspring structure embodying such elements that all of the parts may beeasily and quickly assembled and locked in cooperative relation and thesprings of the structure mounted upon a broad flat bearing surface ofthe supporting bars which latter are so formed and constructed that theywill not be subject to compression, but provide for a rigid support forthe springs.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consistsin the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularlypointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes maybe made in the form, proportion, size and minor details withoutdeparting from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of theinvention.

In the drawings:Figure 1 is a top plan view of a portion of a frameillustrating my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view on the lineaa of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line bb ofFig. 1. Fig. 4 illustrates a modified form of means for fastening thesprings to the bars.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, thereference character 1 indicates a portion of a frame to which PatentedMarch 30, 1909.

Serial No. 453,945.

are secured my improved bars 2 adapted to support the springs 3. Anynumber of bars may be employed according to the size of the frame.

The bars 2 are each formed preferably of flat steel pressed into theshape of a channel iron with the flanges 4 extending throughout theentire length of the supporting part of the bar at a direct right angleto the body portion of the latter. Thus the flanges are continuousthroughout the supporting part of the bar and, as shown, they aredirected downwardly in preference to directing them upwardly or formingthem upon a curve or irregular longitudinally of the body of the bar. Itherefore effectually reinforce or strengthen the bar againstcompression and provide a firm and rigid support for the springs 3. Theopposite ends of the bars at each end are formed to provide hangers,that is, each end is directed upwardly at 5 and then outwardly at 6 sothat the portions 6 may be secured to the top of the frame in anysuitable manner and the body of each bar depend within the frame. Theflanges 4 at each end of the bars are bent into engagement with theunderside of the bars from the points 7 to the extremities thereof toreinforce the hanger portions 6-7 of the bars without destroying thejunctions of the flanges with the supporting part of the bars.

I am aware that it is old in the art to provide V-shaped bars and alsobars that are semi-circular in cross section and perforate or slot theupwardly or downwardly directed longitudinal portions of the bars toreceive portions of the springs of the structure. However, suchconstructions do not provide for a firm mounting of the springs, as thelatter are supported only by the openings or slots and consequently donot have substantial mounting upon the bodies of the bars. Fin-thermore,in such constructions the springs have to be twisted-into theperforations or slots in order that they may be secured upon the bars,all of which requires considerable time and energy on the part of theuser in setting up the structure. Moreover, aside from the abovedisadvantages these slots and perforations greatly weaken the bars. I amalso aware that it is old to direct the longitudinal edges of the barsupwardly over and u on the tops of the bodies of the bars to over ap thelower convolutions of the springs to secure the latter in place.However, it is difficult to mount the springs in such devices, andmoreover, unless the flanges are directed downwardly and are regular andcontinuous and at right angles to the bars, the latter are subjected tocompression and Will not effectually provide for such rigidity as isessential in bars of this character.

In order that I need not mount the springs 3 in the flanges of myimproved supporting bar and thereby Weaken the flanges and make the barsliable to compression, and in order to provide for a firm mounting ofthe springs 3 upon the bodies of the supporting bars, I provide the bodyof each bar inter mediate the longitudinal edges thereof with aplurality of spaced pairs of tongues 8, by virtue of which I am enabledto secure the springs to the supporting bars Without twisting thesprings into cooperative relation with the bars. In other Words, it issimply necessary for me to place each spring adjacent and between thecorresponding pair of the tongues 8 and then merely bend the tongues 8over the lower convolutions of the springs, as shown. This is obviouslya very simple method of securing the springs to the bars and it is alsoobvious that if the structure is shipped in parts that the user or themaker of a complete structure may readily assemble the parts Without thetwisting operation and with very little, if any, energy at all. Thesetongues are preferably struck up from the bodies of the bars, as shown'From the foregoing, it will be seen that by virtue of the flanges 4being directed downwardly at a direct right angle to the bodies of thebars and being arranged parallel with each other throughout the lengthof the supporting bars, that I provide for a rigid support of thesprings and that the bars are not subject to compression, as would bethe case in the use of flat bars or bars provided with upwardly directedflanges.

If preferred, I may secure the lower ends of the springs 3 to the bodyportion of the bar 2 by means of a suitable fastening 8, as

shown in Fig. 4. Thus either method of fastening the springs to the barsdisclosed herein may be employed to secure the springs firmly to thebars.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In aspring construction, a frame, a spring supporting bar connected to theframe embodying a metallic member including a body having downwardlydirected flanges at its opposite longitudinal edges extendingcontinuously throughout the length of the supporting portion of the barand at a direct right angle to the body portion to maintain the latteragainst compression, said flanges being imperforate, hanger portionsformed at the opposite end of the bar, the aforesaid flanges of the bodyportion being bent at the hanger portions into intimate contact with thebody of the hanger portions throughout the length of the latter tostrengthen the same, springs mounted upon the body of the bar above saidflanges, and means for securing the springs upon the body portions ofthe bars.

2. As an article of manufacture, a supporting bar for springs embodyinga metallic member including a body having dov. n- Wardly directedflanges extending continuously throughout the length of the supportingportion of the bar and at a direct right angle to the body portion tomaintain the latter against compression, hanger portions formed at theopposite ends of the bar,the aforesaid flanges of the body portion beingbent at the hanger portions into intimate contact with the body of thehanger portions throughout the length of the latter to strengthen thesame.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two vdtnesses.

WATSON It. SMITH.

Vlitnesses H. T. REYNOLDS, WM. B. KNICKERBOGKER, Jr.

